I have found few places I like as much as Highland Kitchen. The ONLY critique is the wait; the space is small, they might benefit from a larger space... the food is exceptional; the specials are always tasty, the waiters are usually great, and I really enjoy the atmosphere. You HAVE to try it, and I bet you will try it again and again! read more

I've been here for dinner a couple times and have been pleased. it's a great casual place to go with a bunch of friends and hang out for a while and linger over your meal and drinks. the southern influence is a nice touch without seeming like a theme restaurant. the menu has great variety and they have an interesting beer selection. while the food is tasty and the service is smiley, the atmosphere is what really brings it all together. the crowd is really mixed, but not in an awkward way. families and college hipsters rub elbows and no one minds because they're all having a great time. I will concede that after hearing quite a bit of hype, the fried chicken didn't blow my socks off. it was good (come on, it's fried chicken), but not the best I've ever had. I was there later in the evening and it felt like it had been made a bit earlier. won't keep me from going back, though. read more

Something about Somerville has apparently changed the way people go about their Sundays. I've gone out for brunch before in my life, but when you go to brunch in Somerville, be prepared for a treat almost anywhere. I must say that I've been to a few places now that will get 5 stars just for their breakfast alone - but this place gets it for everything. That being said, you can get a good brunch at a lot of places out here, but the bar and and the staff at Highland Kitchen puts them highest in my book. The chef has a truly southern inspired selection of breakfast food and if what we ordered is a taste of what everything on the menu is like then everything is probably good. We started off with an order of cornbread and fried green tomatoes. I give the tomatoes an A+ and the cornbread a B. Then we ordered Shrimp & Grits (A+) and the Chicken Liver Omelette (A-). I personally love chicken livers so this might be skewed because it's me. The idea of them throws others off it seems. The order that comes out the most seems to be "The Dirty Bird" which I will be going back to try very soon. It's a massive fried chicken breast with amazingness topped all over it. We heard around 20 orders go back to the kitchen for this aptly named Dirty Bird. A minute or two later, the bartender Joe comes back with a booming "86 Dirty Bird!!" It must be something special. Go for brunch or for a drink. But be prepared to wait. It's worth it. Get to the bar for first come first serve if you can. read more

I must upgrade my original review after three awesome experiences at Highland Kitchen. I have found that the more fancy-type offerings on the menu are more delicious than the basics (for example, order a gnocchi over a burger). Their cocktails are delicious. I've enjoyed the Mark and Stormy, hot apple cider, and Sheraton Commander. They also have a great beer selection. And, I enjoyed the Tuesday night spelling bee very much! Came in second (rats). This restaurant is small and busy, and the bar is quite crowded. I recommend it for fun nights out with groups more than an intense conversation with one person. If you go for dinner the wait will be long, but they come find you when your table is ready, which is a nice touch. read more

My experience at Highland Kitchen was excellent! The menu is one of the most unique and refreshing menus I have ever seen. Their drinks are creative so say the least. One of the special drinks of the night was white sangria... yum! Very tasty! For an appetizer I shared deviled eggs with my boyfriend. They were the best deviled eggs I have ever had. Then I had the black bean burger with pico and guacamole. Unbelievable! So good! Their specialty is Coconut Curried Goat Stew and my boyfriend got this. It was VERY SPICY so if you don't like heat, don't get it! However, my boyfriend thought it was one of the best meals he's ever had. It was a shame I was so full at the end, because the dessert menu was impressive. Our server was very knowledgeable and helpful. Any questions we had on the menu, food or drinks, she was able to explain everything to us. Everything about this place is offbeat in the best way possible. If you are looking for something new that you haven't tried before, Highland Kitchen is perfect for you. I honestly can't wait to go back! read more

I didn't really know about Highland Kitchen until I recently moved to the neighborhood. Been twice this summer - both times were a week day, with just 2 of us, and 30 minute wait. Small restaurant, and very popular. But, they have a terrific drink menu, so I didn't mind hanging out at the bar before being seated for dinner! I have really enjoyed The Dorcester drink - vodka, pink lemonade, and cucumber... very simple and refreshing summer drink (I even recreated these at home, as they have the recipe posted on their blog!) Food is great. Not a large menu, but a variety of dishes please whatever your mood or preference. Fish taco appetizer was three large tacos - nicely breaded fish and a tasty pico (the 2 of us were pretty full after splitting these!) The veggie kabobs are grilled well, and come with a delicious dipping sauce and lemony orzo salad. The veggie burger is also good - I ordered it without the cheese, and I didn't miss it - the guac and pico provided a lot of flavor. Would love to come back to try brunch! read more

Despite being a haven for the hipster crowd, I am absolutely in love with Highland Kitchen. The Good: Delicious food, reasonable prices (great prices actually considering the quality of the food), good music.. oh, and OMG the ginger beer!! So good! The bad: Can't seem to get a water refill to save my life, often too loud to think let alone hold a conversation. It's loud enough I would debate knocking them down a second star for it (I'd give them a five but for the noise). Dishes Tried this time: Mussels appetizer, collards greens, Veal Pailliard (evening special), and Mark & Stormy. Just looking at what we ordered how can you argue with a place that have some of the best collards in Boston (as judged by my Georgia born partner) and fabulous Thai-Inspired Mussels (my favorite seafood of all time). The Ginger Beer is sharp, great stuff. I wouldn't normally call out a Mark & Stormy, but really try it... good enough here to be called a proper cocktail. Oh and did I mention the awesome surf rock band on Sunday nights??? read more

Perfect gem in this Sommerville neighborhood. Excellent bartenders with plenty of drinks you won't find anywhere else. A spot full of local regular patrons, you'll immediately feel at home here too. Live music during Sunday brunch makes it a great way to end a week. read more

Whenever people I know are looking for a new dining experience I point them towards the HK. You can't go wrong with this place. Menu is small but everything on it is delish and well thought out. Service has always been impeccable and knowledgeable. Do you like Bloody Mary's? Their house mix is the best I've ever had while eating brunch. Black bean burger kicks some veggie butt. I do miss the Meat Plate appetizer. Hint Hint.... The menu is eclectic with a Southern flair. Not for everyone but if you are adventurous and love good food come by HK and see for yourself. The place gets jammed packed pretty much every night and Sunday brunch so be prepared to wait at the bar happily with drink in hand. First Tuesday of the month is Spelling Bee Night. A lot of fun with some comedic stylings in between Acidophilus and Zizyphus. Highly recommend Monday Fried Chicken Night. YUM! read more

Highland Kitchen - Fried chicken with red bliss mashed and smoked collard greens - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

If you're going to love Highland Kitchen, you have to love it all. Animal head decor, loud and crowded atmosphere, the inability to hold a conversation without shouting across the table at each other...but in my opinion the food is well worth it, and sometimes conversation can be overrated. They always tell us the wait is going to be abominable, and then end up seating us much sooner than expected, so that's awesome. The servers are all really friendly and fun and great at their jobs. I don't recall ever feeling justified in leaving less than a 25% tip at this place, and I usually feel I should leave more. Despite being constantly busy it's a really clean place, the bathrooms never gross me out, and the other patrons are usually pretty chill and down to earth people...if a little drunk. Oh, speaking of drunk...the bartenders are fantastic. I'd also like to mention that I'm a born and raised Georgia girl, and this is the only place in the entire state that can satisfy my need for Southern food when I'm feeling homesick. The fried green tomatoes alone would get five stars. read more

Amazing. Went for brunch, and was extremely happy with this option. It was a long wait but definitely worth it. There was a live bluegrass band, a delicious bar, and the BEIGNETS! Oh my god the beignets. I would go back alone every single Sunday for the rest of my life for those alone. Go!!!! read more

There are definitely a ton of fans of this restaurant! I went on a Tuesday night with some friends and it was packed! With that said, I had a pretty good experience. We ended up having to wait awhile for a table but the staff was very good at updating us on how much longer. We hung around the bar (which had a small but good draft list) and ordered a appetizer (truffle risotto balls... so good!). We then got seated and the service was very good even with a packed restaurant. I ended up ordering the pulled pork sandwich which was good but not great. It hada little too much vinegar. Other than that, I would go back again... It seems like a great place for a casual and fun meetup with friends! read more

Nice atmosphere, very casual yet classy Their buttermilk fried buffalo brussel sprouts were fantastic. Great service, we had two waitresses checking on us every 5 minutes. read more

I've been here twice and had a better experience my first time a few month ago. I came for NYE and was excited to see what was on the menu. Apps: had some oysters and the tuna tartar. Outstanding. Best part of our dinner. Loved the chili oil in the tartar - great flavor. Dinner: my husband had the jambalaya. The corn bread was super dry. Great flavors though. I had the branzino whole fish. Besides the side being cold, I really wanted to enjoy this fish, but because it wasn't de-boned, it was extremely hard to eat. If it wasn't for the bones in every bite, the fish was well cooked and had great flavor. Dessert: my husband insisted on the ginger molasses cake. Huge disappointment. They had limp apples and the cake was dry and it felt like it was made days ago. To top it all off, they just slathered whipped cream to hide it all. Really put a damper on the evening. All and all, this place has great potential. I just wished they rotated the menu and were more thoughtful with some of the dishes. read more

This place is a great place for a relaxed evening. The place is always bustling with people so you better get here early. I have seen really long queues on Saturday mornings for brunch, not surprising the brunch is absolutely delicious. I usually go here on evenings. I lived right next to it for a couple of years. The bar-tenders are really friendly and fun to talk to. The drinks are great. My personal favourite for food is the Goat Stew with Eggplant. It's spicy as heck and this coming from a guy who eats a lot of spicy food is saying something. It's totally worth it because it's mouth wateringly delicious. A lot of attractive people visit the place. They even have Wednesday night Karaoke. A lot of alcohol makes for a lot of bad singers who think they are singing well. It's all fun though! I'm sure you will have a great time drinking and dining in this place. read more

Highland kitchen is another favorite. Highly recommend: mussels-- solid. gnocchi-- amazing! I once ordered this and it was WAY too salty. All other times it is has been delicious. Mixed greens with the goat cheese crostini-- this is so simple, but so delicious. The goat cheese is really creamy. I've never been able to move on to the entrees, because I usually order too many appetizers. Having said that, they get docked a point for 2 reasons. 1) impossible to get a seat. The wait starts as soon as the restaurant opens, and the wait is brutal. Luckily the Rarely Eagle drink is delicious. 2) I know their bread pudding dessert is supposed to be great, but I've ordered it, and the "special" bread pudding desserts, and I am always disappointed. Parking in the back is a plus! read more

Came here for brunch last weekend. You must get here at least a half hour before it opens because a line forms outside and the line can get big. Fantastic spot in Somerville for brunch. Good mimosas! Get the biggie for two extra dollars instead of the small mimosa. I had the western Omelette, which was great with the grits. Get the grits over the home fries! My boyfriend had the biscuits with the sausage gravy and he is still talking about them. Really laid back vibe even though it gets really packed. I loved the bar staff- we always prefer to sit at the bar but here it did get quite busy and they let people stand behind you and order drinks... so that can be somewhat annoying but to be expected. All in all it was fantastic. read more

There is nothing on the menu short of delicious. Even a simple yogurt and granola was very good. The lines/waits are worth it. Very friendly and appreciative staff. read more

Highland Kitchen - Yogurt, granola, and fruit bowl with a side of coffee. Yum! - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

Been here a few times now as we live close... Food is great, buffalo sprouts are to die for, only problem is the wait time and the fact that they don't do reservations... Had the mahi mahi last night, fantastic... Pork belly was good also! read more

My favorite neighborhood restaurant. I know when we go there we will have top notch friendly service. Think of it like going to a friends house. I also know I will never be disappointed in what I eat or drink. Sometimes I wonder why I try other places. It's tough loving Highland so much when you're a person who likes to try new places. read more

Highland Kitchen - Compliments to the chef! @highlandkitchen - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

This place is great!!! Such a cute, quirky look to the place and the menu is really different and unique. We got buffalo fried brussel sprouts (YUM), deviled eggs, and mozzarella and ricotta fritters that were amazing. We ordered the catfish p.o. boy too but I was already too full for it- but my boyfriend said it was delicious!! Everything we tried was fresh and delicious and a nice twist on some classic foods we love. Only downside was that is was really crowded and loud- we were surprised as it was 9 on a Wednesday. The meal is totally worth a wait though and the server was awesome about moving us to a table that was a little quieter than the rest of the restaurant. Thank you and we will be back soon!! read more

Best brunch if you can get a table.. Live music! Grab the Fiona and vegetarian omelet! read more

I wanna just say a big thank you to our server Megan, who made our Anniversary evening so special for us. She and her beautiful smile made our day. She was so humble, nice, professional and great at everything. Her smile made us feel that we are welcomed there. I informed her about our Anniversary and that I wanted to do something for my husband! She treated us with this amazing Chocolate mousse and Sparkling wine - spot on! As if she read my mind. Love love loved being there. Everyone should try out Highland Kitchen, no matter what day, they will make it special and the best day of the week. PS: I wanna be friends with Megan read more

Very good experience start to finish. We were in a hurry and let our server know. He recommended items that came out quick and brought the check with our order. The Rubin was tasty as were the fries. The atmosphere was chill and comfortable. Recommend! read more

My absolute favorite restaurant in the Boston area. When every seat is filled up within 5 minutes you know a restaurant is worth going to and certainly worth the wait! The gnocchi with short rib appetizer is an absolute go-to for me and my boyfriend. I know this also might sound insane, but their caesar salad is absolutely out of this world. A carnivore would even be all about it! Everything I have ever had on their menu, which at this point is almost everything, is amazing. Make sure to end off with the banana bread pudding, you won't regret it. The staff is always great, too. I highly recommend Highland Kitchen for its cozy and fun environment, and even more for their delicious menu. read more

I went to Highland Kitchen on the recommendation of a colleague. I was pretty excited to try this place as I had heard pretty great things about it. The place is rather large but since it's a popular spot it really tends to get packed and there is probably a wait during peak times. The staff was really nice, letting us know about the wait and seating us as soon as possible. The waitress was also really kind and overall very attentive. She took the time to tell us a bit more about the dishes we were deciding between. We ended up going for two sandwiches the blackened catfish po'boy and the pulled pork sandwich the catfish po'boy was a bit unpleasantly spicy - don't get me wrong I love spicy food but I feel like this spice was just layered on top of the catfish and just stuck to the roof of your mouth. Other than that, the catfish itself didn't have much flavor. As for the pulled pork, I was also pretty disappointed. I feel like the pork itself could have been marinated better and definitely could have had much more flavor. I may be a bit harsher when it comes to rating pulled pork since growing up in Miami I had some of the best pulled pork ever. Even so, I feel like the this pulled pork sandwich is not quite there by any standards - it does have potential though! The fries were pretty much the highlight - they are tasty and not greasy. If I were to come back I may just go for one of their courses and skip the sandwiches. read more

Had a wonderful first experience here! It was busy on a Saturday night, but we were seated right away. Had the groundhog day special cocktail (delicious) followed by a cheeseburger, and it was exactly what I needed! I can't wait to come back. read more

Highland Kitchen - Cheeseburger, fries, and a Groundhog Day cocktail - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Highland Kitchen came up during a conversation at work one day. Everyone had nothing but positive things to say about this place so, being the adventurous foodie I am, I decided to make the trek out here. It was a busy Saturday night so I had to wait about 45 minutes for a table to open up. I usually would head right out of the venue for wait times longer than 20 minutes, but since there was a bar there, i decided to stay and wait. I had the Pan roasted boneless half chicken. I was afraid the chicken was going to be very dry and bland, but it actually came out very good! Probably the best chicken I've had in a while. Great job. read more

I heard a lot of hype about this place. It was super crowded on the Friday night. I was personally disappointed by first, the ambience. Then can the appetisers- the ricotta & mozzarela fritters were Amazing, the buffalo Brussels - not so much. The buffalo sauce was overly done for my taste. My main dish was pulled pork sandwich, which could be the worst sandwich I have ever had. The only thing I tasted was the tangy lemon/lime flavour, which could be in the sauce, & none of the pork or the coleslaw. Despite the soft buttery roll, I disliked every bite of it. The fries were badly fried, dark brown and tasted of old oil. Desserts were amazing. The brownie & banana bread pudding were to die for. I do not understand this inconsistency. Did I order the worst of all on the menu? Was it a bad day? Idk. I wish the sandwich was even close to what I expected it to be. read more

We got into the restaurant and there was a 25 minutes wait, so we decided to sit at the bar instead. However there were no seats right next to each other, but the receptionist asked us to figure it out ourselves in a condescending way. We felt too uncomfortable to ask people to move so we decided to leave. The manager should teach these guys customer service... read more

Went here for brunch at 1:30 on a Sunday. Absolutely packed! That was a good sign. We managed to find some seats at the bar. HIGHLIGHT: the drinks and the bartenders. The cocktails were downright amazing and the choice staggering. All (6) of our drinks were perfect and the bartenders were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Hands down one of the best places I've been for drinks. Food wise, it was good comfort food. We split the fried green tomatoes (awesome). I had the biscuits with sausage gravy and fried eggs, and my mom had the chicken liver omelette. She was thrilled and couldn't recall ever seeing chicken livers on a restaurant menu. Can't wait to come back for dinner! read more

Highland Kitchen - Fried green tomatoes with bacon and a blue cheese sauce - New American Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

See all

I discovered this place after seeing the review in Dig. Since it is about 2 blocks from my house I thought it was worthwhile to check it out. I got there before everyone had discovered how wonderful this place was, because I had no problem getting a table on a weeknight. Every time I pass it now there is a full house. The chili was yummy and well spiced. My favorite part of my meal was the drink, I can't remember what it was called but any drink that is garnished by a slice of blood orange is okay by me. I had a burger (boring, I know, but sometimes a girl just wants some meat!) and it was cooked to perfection and served with tasty hand cut fries. They had a nice selection of seafood on their menu, which I will be back to try, if I can get a table. The decor was furnished by a local artist and each table has a funky metal art piece above it. Our waiter was not only attentive but a very nice person to talk to. This is a great place, and it's worth eating there even if you don't live close by. read more

Highland Kitchen is excellent. The jukebox rules and all the food is good. When I spend the money to eat out at a nice place I want this type of quality. The food is unpretentious, delicious and very fairly priced. Some things are expensive (but well worth it) but between the soups, sandwiches, and appetizers it's easy to to eat at Highland without breaking the bank. Highland Kitchen represents the standard to which I hold other area eateries and I am usually disappointed. read more

In my book this place is up there with Green St and West Side Lounge. The atmosphere is the perfect combo of casual and sophisticated, awesome food, awesome drinks, all around awesome place. The first time I went here was just before christmas when some friends who live about a 1/2 mile down the road and I treked through the huge blizzard we were having to get some cozy food and get out of the house. At the time I was just along for the ride as I was still delirious from a Chinese food overload at lunch time. Fitting more food in my belly wasn't a priority, however upon reaching the restaurant and looking at a menu I decided I couldn't pass up a good Mac 'n Cheese with a salad, a little more comfort food and some ruffage to make me feel better about life. The Mac was fabu but almost too cheesy for me at the time. The little side salad was perfecto! Their menu included Apps, Entres, and also a snack section (home of the Mac) with perfect portions for a little appetite. I went into the evening thinking I wouldn't be up for much drinking. Alas (or i should say, thankfully) the cocktail menu proved me wrong. As a MAJOR fan of a good Dark and Stormy I was instantly intrigued by their "Mark and Stormy," consisting of chili-infused Maker's Mark and home brewed ginger beer. I'm in love....with a cocktail...I know he'll never break my heart. It was perfectly spicy and sweet. I want more....and i want it now. Once we thought we were finished stuffing our faces with deviled eggs and Mac and wine (great wine selection btw) we were once again drawn in by the cocktail list and went for one more. The waitstaff was great and really helpful with picking a wine and suggesting the best eats. Overall the experience was great. After coming back from being a seedy local dive bar, its certainly become a fantastic place spend time with friends, a loved one (even if its a cocktail), or on your own. read more

Yes it's a hipster-haven and a bit tight, but the food, service, and atmosphere are all very good. So if you live in the area, then add this your queue of places to frequent frequently. I've been here for a few brunches and a dinner and have left feeling very happy and satisfied every time. Drinks are mixed well, food is presented and cooked perfectly, and if you don't mind speaking a bit louder than normal to your companions (it's probably acoustics), then this place is a wise pick as an alternative to your microwaved ravioli and Teenies. During brunches they have musicians play various instruments, but it actually adds to the fun, instead of detracting. Nothing's worse than eating corned beef hash accompanied to a crappy rendition of "Norwegian Wood" on a clarinet. Live music on Sunday nights as well, bring the steak tip mosh! Handy parking lot behind the restaurant, too. read more

Delicious brunch selections, nice music, and easy to get a table, but God help you if you're trying to soak up a hangover. Extremely ungenerous with portions. I mean, come on. I don't think 3 slices of bacon counts as a "side," especially when it costs $3. And pancakes cost about 7 cents to make. So pile them on there, don't give me three lil' cakes spread waaaay across my plate and force me to eat lunch 45 minutes after I leave. It seems like a lot of the reviews here are loving the non-brunch menu elements, so I may readjust my score after trying dinner. read more

If you haven't been to Highland Kitchen for Sunday brunch yet, then you are truly missing out. Talk about a delicious breakfast meal! The staff is very friendly and the food comes out nice and quick. Make sure you get there early because this place is so tasty the line is always out the door! The few Sunday's that I have gone to Highland Kitchen they have had a band sitting in the corner playing music. It was great because it wasn't very loud, it was just at the right volume level. Get to Highland Kitchen! read more

This is a review of their bar area, not the seating area. My companion and I sat at the bar last Friday after work and got there early enough to beat the crowds, around 5:45. The drinks were awesome, and we got nachos which were equally awesome and very filling for two people. The only reason I'm giving 4 instead of 5 stars is because it got too crowded too quickly. I don't like the fact that if I want to nab a seat at their bar to score one of their delicious drinks and nachos that I need to rush over there straight from work...but that being said, I will definitely do it again in the near future! read more

Food was excellent, crowd is uniquely Somerville, service is superb. I had their goat stew and bread pudding. Amazing! Prices are a bit steep, but this is one of the places I don't knock for their higher prices. They get crowded yet they will not ignore you. Few places I go to make me feel like a regular from my first visit. Highland Kitchen however IS one of those places. Start here if you are new to Somerville and want to meet some good people quick. Sidenote I was disappointed in their brunch. Unique maybe, but just not at the level of a East Coast Grill. read more

With its attentive staff, adventurous menu, and excellent cocktail and drink selection, Highland Kitchen has become my favorite date spot. It has a nice vibe and feels like an experience, but is not pretentious or intimidating - when I think about going there, my immediate thought isn't, "Oh hell, my clothes aren't nice enough." As far as the food goes, it's generally great (most consistently scrumptious burger in Somerville, to my mind). Sometimes their specials sneak beyond their area of expertise (I recently had a duck-and-cherry-reduction special there that was only so-so), but I appreciate that they're willing to try. And I think the pricing there is reasonable for what you're getting - a nice meal, thoughtfully prepared, in a quaint space. Thumbs up, HK. read more